Social media and encrypted messaging apps in illicit narcotics trade - Mathrubhumi English

The rapidly evolving IT and telecom technologies have become an inextricable part of our life. Their versatile functionality and a multi-million audience of users as well as the possibility to preserve anonymity are appealing conditions not only for ordinary people but also for criminals. The development of modern information technology has had a substantial effect on the illicit drug trade situation. Contactless method of drug sales is now most common. It involves using uncontrolled messengers with data encryption functionality, such as Telegram, Signal, and Wickr, e-money systems as well as crypto assets. Multi-level systems relying on electronic services and money transfer systems that do not require opening an account, as well as bank cards, and crypto assets are used to provide financial resources for the drug distribution network, including to transfer funds abroad.

There is a mushrooming of online pharmacies and crypto markets around the world. To access these new innovative markets and reach out to anonymous clients, smart phone enabled social media and messaging applications, are being relied upon by drug dealers and peddlers. Apps like Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook and What’s App, and Telegram are getting popular to communicate and trade in drugs. Majority of the younger generation are very comfortable using social media. The present Covid pandemic and switching over to Online mode of education has made even school going children computer savvy. Many of them...



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